Mixed messages fuel a crisis

If the government was keen to avoid a panic around the possibility of a fuel shortage in the coming months then the laughable performance of ministers and spokespeople on the issues of ‘striking’ tanker drivers did little to instil a calm fortitude in the travelling British public.

Keep calm andcarry on
“We are not having a meeting of COBRA (the government’s emergency planning committee),” says a spokesperson. “We are having a meeting of COBRA,” says the PM. “Stock up with jerry cans of fuel,” say a cabinet minister. “Don’t do that, it’s dangerous,” say another.

It’s not easy being consistent in your message giving in a big, multi-headed organisation like the government, but get it wrong and everyone look ridiculous, and the end result is the absolute reverse of what you wanted in the first place.